Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

The cabin's presence in this desolate cave was an anomaly, a puzzle piece that didn't fit the grim landscape. William, his senses heightened, approached with caution, his footsteps barely disturbing the dust that coated the warped floorboards. He circled the cabin, peering through the grimy windows, searching for any sign of life.

Inside, bathed in the faint light filtering through the cracks in the walls, lay a woman. She was asleep, her red hair fanned out across a threadbare pillow, her breathing slow and even. Even William's deliberate attempts to make noise failed to rouse her.

He studied her closely, taking in her delicate features, her unblemished skin, and the archaic style of her clothing. She seemed out of place, a figure from a bygone era. He activated his system's analysis function, hoping for a clue to her identity, but it remained stubbornly silent.

Despite the lack of information, one thing was clear: this woman was no ordinary being. A powerful aura emanated from her, a palpable energy that pressed against William, making it difficult to breathe.

He scanned the cabin's interior, his gaze sweeping across the meager furnishings, searching for anything that might shed light on this enigmatic woman and her connection to this strange, desolate land.

Scattered across a dusty table, he discovered a small hoard of gold coins, their gleam catching the faint light.

A closer inspection revealed a collection of exquisite jewelry and several artifacts that pulsed with a subtle magical energy. Temptation flickered in William's eyes, but he quickly dismissed the thought of taking them.

He had no place to store such treasures, and the risk of waking the slumbering woman, whose power he couldn't fathom, was too great.

'Focus, William,' he chided himself. 'You need to deal with the necromancers and find a way to escape.'

He continued his search, but the cabin yielded no further clues. Frustrated, he turned his attention back to the sleeping woman.

Perhaps she could offer some answers, some guidance. He gently shook her shoulder, calling her, but she remained unresponsive. He tried again, his voice louder, but she didn't stir. It was as if she were trapped in a deep slumber, her consciousness unreachable.

The mystery deepened. Who was this woman? Why was she sleeping in this remote and dangerous place? And how could he wake her? The weight of these questions settled upon him, adding to the growing sense of unease.

The cave entrance echoed with the screech of the undead griffin, its massive wings scraping against the stone. William's heart pounded in his chest. He had no chance against the necromancer and their monstrous mount in a direct confrontation. He had to hide.

With a desperate glance around the cavern, his eyes fell upon the subterranean lake. It was his only option. He plunged into the icy water, the shock stealing his breath. He dove deep, the darkness closing in around him. He could hold his breath for an extended period, thanks to his enhanced stamina, but time was not on his side.

He watched from his watery sanctuary as the necromancers entered the cabin. Their surprise at finding the sleeping woman was evident.

"What is this place?" the male necromancer exclaimed, his voice echoing in the cavern. "Who is she?"

"I don't know," the female necromancer replied, her voice laced with greed as she scooped up a handful of gold coins. "But look at all this treasure!"

But as her fingers closed around the coins, the woman on the bed stirred. Her eyes snapped open, revealing a fiery red that matched her hair. She glared at the intruders, her voice a chilling whisper.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her tone laced with a dangerous calm. "And what are you doing in my lair?"

The necromancers scoffed, their arrogance evident. "Your lair?" the male necromancer sneered. "This is just an abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere. But you seem to have collected some valuable trinkets. We'll be taking those." He pointed at the gold coins. "We didn't find who we were looking for, but this will do nicely."

William, his lungs burning, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of awe and terror. The red-haired woman exuded an aura of power that dwarfed even the necromancers. Her calm demeanor and chilling threats sent shivers down his spine.

The female necromancer, her greed outweighing her caution, sneered. "We won't be leaving," she spat, "and you'll be handing over all your valuables. Understood?"

That was the final straw. The red-haired woman moved with a speed that defied expectations, her form a blur as she crossed the room. She seized the necromancer by the neck, lifting her effortlessly, and hurled her through the cabin window.

The impact sent the necromancer sprawling, but she quickly recovered, her anger fueling her power. "That's all you've got?" she taunted.

The red-haired woman's response was swift and devastating. She opened her mouth, unleashing a torrent of fire that engulfed the necromancer in a blazing inferno. The screams were cut short as the flames consumed her, leaving only a pile of ash in her wake.

The male necromancer, his eyes wide with terror, scrambled towards the griffin. He knew he was no match for this woman, her power far exceeding his own. He leaped onto the griffin's back, urging it to take flight.

But it was too late. Another blast of fire erupted from the woman's mouth, engulfing both the necromancer and the undead griffin in a fiery embrace. Their screams echoed through the cavern as they were consumed, their ashes raining down upon the lake.

William, his body trembling, watched the carnage unfold. He was trapped, his lungs screaming for air, his escape route blocked by a woman who could incinerate him with a breath. He braced himself for the inevitable attack, but instead, her voice, amplified by an unseen force, echoed through the cavern.

"Would you please emerge from the water?" she called out, her tone surprisingly calm. "I know you're there."

William, his body trembling from the cold and the lingering fear, emerged from the lake. He approached the cabin cautiously, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. Experience more tales on empire

The woman studied him with a curious gaze, her fiery eyes softening slightly. "You should warm yourself," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle. "You're freezing. Come here."

He obeyed, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't afford to anger this woman, whose power dwarfed his own. She pulled him into an unexpected embrace, her warmth enveloping him. William's cheeks flushed, his body stiff with surprise.

With a subtle gesture, she channeled her fire magic, drying his clothes and warming him to the core. Then, her nose wrinkled slightly.

"You have a fish in your pocket," she observed, a hint of amusement in her voice. "It's rather pungent."

William, embarrassed, nodded sheepishly. "Yes, I know," he admitted. "I apologize. I didn't mean to intrude. I was fleeing from those necromancers and stumbled upon your cabin by accident."

The woman leaned closer, inhaling deeply, her action both unexpected and strangely intimate. "It's alright," she said, her voice softening. "You have a familiar scent. I'm not angry. You may stay here for a while if you need to, but not too long. I'm quite tired." She yawned, her fiery eyes flickering with a hint of exhaustion. "I'll be returning to my slumber now."

Before she reached the bed, William asked, "Can you help me get out of here? I don't even know where I am..."

She stopped her movements, staying there in a thoughtful state for a few seconds before turning around to face him.

"Maybe I can help. Let's talk."